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Bin deaths

Another homeless man has been crushed to death while sleeping in an industrial bin in Dublin, Ireland, bringing the long running issue to the public eye once again.

The tragic death of Henryk Piotrowski, a 43-year, Polish man killed when the bin he was sleeping in was picked up by a waste lorry, came just days after a fatal inquest was held into the death of a 48-year-old homeless man in a recycling plant in Tipton.

Workers at a recycling plant in Tipton found Ranjit Singh’s body within a pile of rubbish that was being sorted last September.

At least two other men have been killed in the UK, and a further two in Ireland have died in similar circumstances. Charities believe the numbers may well be higher and report anecdotal evidence of injuries and near misses.

The Pavement first became concerned about reports from readers several years ago and has been aiming to raise awareness with regular poster campaigns every since.

Now the industry has pledged to tackle the issue more seriously and The Pavement understands there are plans to launch research into the extent of the problem at an industry-wide conference this month.

Waste management company Biffa is also in talks with government-backed advice line Streetlink about a partnership to ensure refuse collectors check nobody is sleeping in bins before emptying them.

It is also thought that they are aiming to involve other waste management companies in the scheme.

Richard Burdett, founding editor of The Pavement, said: “These sad cases show the risks, so even when it's cold outside, those who are rough sleeping need to stay out and stay safe. We're glad more people are now taking notice of this issue – and more research will help. We'll continue to keep working hard to raise awareness.”